CYLS 193: Africa X Podcasting - Strategies For Amplifiying African Voices with APVA’s Founder Bidemi Adedire

Released Tuesday, 18th July 2023

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CYLS 193: Africa X Podcasting - Strategies For Amplifiying African Voices with APVA’s Founder Bidemi Adedire

Tuesday, 18th July 2023

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Episode Summary

In this episode of the Africa X series Kevin Y. Brown speaks with Bidemi Adedire, the founder of the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists (APVA), on her passion behind the foundation and growth of a community-driven organization to amplify and celebrate the diversity of African voices and create opportunities for African creatives. As a Communications and Idea Strategist and Marketing Automation enthusiast, Bidemi has always been someone who loves to think outside of the box and come up with ideas. An avid podcaster herself, she was looking for a community and saw a need for accessible home-grown resources for African podcasters and voice artists which led to her taking a lead in bringing this community together. In 2022 they hosted one of their first major events, the APVA awards, which drew in 2200 nominations and 70,000 votes while showcasing growing talent and bringing attention to the potential of the African podcasting industry. Bidemi and Kevin discuss how to turn ideas and passion into action, the many forms of generosity that strengthen a community, and dreams about how podcasting can evolve in the future.

Kevin Y. Brown

Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

Bidemi Adedire

Bidemi Adedire is a Communications Expert, Idea Strategist and Marketing Automation enthusiast, crazy about discovery and constantly excited at the thought of learning new things. She is a passionate podcaster and adolescent health advocate, making every effort to promote both industries. Impact is everything! Bidemi is the founder of the Association of African Podcasters and Voice Artists which amplifies the voices of podcasters, voice artists, and spoken word artists through events and creating opportunities for African creatives. Her personal mantra is, “challenges are opportunities for growth and reskilling.”

Insights From the Episode

The current resources we have that cater to the needs of African creatives
How important it is to document our stories and why podcasts are an ideal way to share them
Keys to balancing your goals when you have multiple projects you’re working on
How to keep the passion for your work going and avoid burnout
The role of mentorship and learning from others who can share their experience
Thoughts on the future of podcasting in Nigeria and Africa as a whole
Tips for setting up a group to keep you accountable to your goals

Quotes from the Show

“I love ideas. I’m an ideas person, but I also like to test ideas. For me, passion is also key; it’s the thing that keeps us going. If I’m talking about the challenges of APVA, I also wake up every day and the first thing I think about is APVA, so it’s important that I don’t start something and get tired of it. When I put it in writing I realize there’s a lot we can do, so right now the excitement is that what we have is amazing, but there’s a lot more to achieve. Because I am looking forward to seeing these things come to pass, I keep myself energized and I want to see APVA become the community I envisioned.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“We have seen that as the result of the surge in wanting to share our narratives, we are shifting what people think about Africa.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“Philanthropy in the Global North is different than in the Global South in Africa where it’s ingrained in our culture. Because it’s in our culture, it’s in our everyday lives, we don’t see the reason to be intentional about documenting these things, so it begins to look like philanthropy doesn’t really exist or has been taught to Africans. With podcasts, it gives us that opportunity to document our stories.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“We want to create a space where every audio creative feels like a celebrity… we want to tell Africans that what they are doing matters, that what they are doing is important, and encourage them so they do not stop doing what they do. Burnout is real, and sometimes when you feel like no one is listening you might want to stop talking. APVA is here to encourage everyone to keep up what they do and create a connection point for potential sponsors and collaboration. This can only be possible when we have a structure in place, and this is what APVA is here for.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“I believe in what we want to do, and I try to manifest what we want to achieve.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“One of the things I love is how we’re so communal and collaborative across the industry, across the continent. I think it also gives us the opportunity to learn from each other.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #193
“Giving up is not a part of me. I know that there are going to be challenges, so I always take on projects with the mind of ‘come rain, come sunshine, this is happening.’ When it looks like we’ve hit a dead end, I just think of another way. There is always an alternative way of achieving something, so I do not quit. I don’t start what I can’t finish.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“I’m looking forward to the time when podcasting will be an actual industry for people to select on forms, when people can say ‘I’m a full-time podcaster.’ That’s the future.” - Bidemi Adedire, Create Your Life Series, #193
“There are so many different types of generosity. I have some friends who are super generous with knowledge. I have another friend who’s just a very kind person; she’s someone I can always call on, so I think that’s a way of being generous. Even when people offer you grace in order to grow; people who give you feedback to become someone better or even course-correct or course-accelerate. I think that’s generous because a lot of times people can just be quiet and let you go on at the pace you are, but when people offer you feedback or advice I look at that as generosity. My grandmother, who’s turning 99 in a couple of weeks, is generous for the way she’s always so welcoming and warm. You’re being generous with me by giving me your time. I’m surrounded by generosity.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #193

Resources Mentioned